[04/29/08 - 11:17 AM]Massive Crowd Turns Out for First Open Casting Session for "High School Musical: Summer Session"The next casting call will be held Wednesday, May 7 at Champion Stadium in Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Florida.

[via press release from ABC]

QUICK TAKE

MASSIVE CROWD TURNS OUT FOR FIRST OPEN CASTING SESSION FOR "HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL: SUMMER SESSION"

Next Casting Call Is May 7 at Champion Stadium In Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando

Details Available at www.abc.com/hsmusicalsummersession.

Despite triple-digit temperatures, a massive crowd of teens turned out Sunday (April 27) in Long Beach for the first open casting call for ABC's new summer reality series, Disney's "High School Musical: Summer Session" (working title). Teens from as far away as Wisconsin, Texas, Colorado, Utah and Washington were among the throngs who gathered for the open audition. Host Nick Lachey welcomed the crowd as they lined up in front of the Long Beach Arena.

The next casting call will be held Wednesday, May 7 at Champion Stadium in Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Florida. Both of these open auditions will form part of the early episodes of the series. Anyone between the ages of 16 and 22 is welcome to give it a shot at the open calls (if you are under 18, you must bring your parent of legal guardian) and can download an application and view eligibility requirements at abc.com/hsmsummersession.

"High School Musical: Summer Session," the next step in the Disney "High School Musical" global sensation, debuts on ABC Sunday, July 20 (8:00-9:00 p.m., ET) and runs Sundays and Mondays (8:00-9:00 p.m., ET) for three weeks, then continues Mondays at 8:00 p.m., ET through mid-September. The producers welcome anyone and everyone ages 16-22 who has dreamed of being center stage � the high school quarterback who's never tried out for a play but has a song in his heart, the drama club extrovert looking to break into the big time, someone looking to trade the chess club routine for a dance routine � all are invited to try to "Get'cha head in the game," as the hit song says. The finalists will ultimately participate in a summer music program to hone their skills, and one talented newcomer will receive the opportunity of a lifetime, becoming a part of "High School Musical" history.

Jay Blumenfeld and Tony Marsh ("Here Come the Newlyweds") are executive producers of the show, from The Jay and Tony Show production company.